Metro area profile · Kentucky
Bowling Green, KY metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Bowling Green metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 197,180
- +9.5% since 2020
- Households
- 73,344
- Median household income
- $63,328
- +27.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $233,700
- Jobs located here
- 78,351
- Highest market score
- 78
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #18 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Bowling Green metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Bowling Green metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 197,180 people live in the Bowling Green metro area, in 73,344 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Bowling Green metro area grew 9.5%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Bowling Green metro area is $63,328 a year, 22% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 27.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Bowling Green metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Bowling Green metro area are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (78); insurance agencies (77); and house cleaning businesses (76). The Bowling Green metro area ranks #18 of 387 scored metro areas for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
The Bowling Green metro area takes in 4 counties: Warren County, Allen County, Butler County and Edmonson County. For its number of households, the Bowling Green metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for grocery stores (49% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for martial arts and dance studios (53% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Bowling Green metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Bowling Green metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 78 | #18 of 387 | 55 | 7.5 | $1.8M | 108 | 81 |
| Insurance agencies | 77 | #54 of 387 | 111 | 15.1 | $1.7M | 133 | 65 |
| House cleaning | 76 | #27 of 375 | 14 | 1.9 | $7.1M | 111 | 23 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 76 | #30 of 385 | 31 | 4.2 | $3.2M | 110 | 49 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 71 | #32 of 387 | 17 | 2.3 | $2.7M | 131 | 11 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 66 | #69 of 387 | 53 | 7.2 | $4.7M | 127 | 33 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 65 | #82 of 386 | 21 | 2.9 | $3.6M | 115 | 9 |
| Spas and skin care | 64 | #66 of 387 | 55 | 7.5 | $1.1M | 124 | 11 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 64 | #75 of 290 | 6 | 0.8 | $11M | 80 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 64 | #77 of 387 | 38 | 5.2 | $5.1M | 107 | 55 |
| Veterinarians | 64 | #93 of 384 | 19 | 2.6 | $3.1M | 114 | 19 |
| Gas stations | 63 | #107 of 387 | 85 | 11.6 | $2.5M | 107 | 73 |
| Convenience stores | 62 | #118 of 387 | 58 | 7.9 | $7.2M | 91 | 4 |
| Pest control | 61 | #100 of 345 | 10 | 1.4 | $9.9M | 97 | 9 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 59 | #96 of 387 | 163 | 22.2 | Index only | 116 | 47 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #99 of 387 | 284 | 38.7 | $211K | 99 | 33 |
| Real estate | 59 | #104 of 387 | 211 | 28.8 | Index only | 113 | 96 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #111 of 387 | 35 | 4.8 | $1.7M | 102 | 5 |
| Laundromats | 58 | #123 of 364 | 9 | 1.2 | $14M | 112 | 4 |
| Home repair trades | 58 | #126 of 387 | 84 | 11.5 | $2.3M | 95 | 113 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 58 | #142 of 387 | 656 | 89.4 | $381K | 103 | 295 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 57 | #125 of 373 | 23 | 3.1 | Index only | 115 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 57 | #133 of 387 | 454 | 61.9 | $166K | 109 | 222 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 57 | #135 of 387 | 366 | 49.9 | $683K | 103 | 106 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #149 of 387 | 270 | 36.8 | $246K | 91 | 93 |
| Child care and preschools | 57 | #149 of 387 | 32 | 4.4 | $871K | 87 | 31 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 57 | #157 of 381 | 22 | 3.0 | $3M | 98 | 15 |
| Tire shops | 56 | #168 of 386 | 30 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 88 | 10 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 55 | #138 of 387 | 73 | 10.0 | $617K | 93 | 33 |
| Hair salons | 55 | #140 of 387 | 155 | 21.1 | $387K | 90 | 16 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 55 | #154 of 387 | 38 | 5.2 | $2M | 111 | 97 |
| Auto repair shops | 55 | #163 of 387 | 161 | 22.0 | $412K | 93 | 65 |
| Roofing and gutters | 54 | #160 of 381 | 27 | 3.7 | $7.2M | 85 | 12 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 54 | #167 of 387 | 61 | 8.3 | $4.1M | 99 | 33 |
| Dry cleaners | 53 | #132 of 272 | 8 | 1.1 | $15.8M | 101 | 5 |
| Property management | 53 | #160 of 374 | 22 | 3.0 | Index only | 84 | 25 |
| Pet stores | 53 | #172 of 382 | 15 | 2.0 | $3.9M | 87 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #177 of 387 | 82 | 11.2 | $716K | 82 | 34 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 52 | #184 of 386 | 33 | 4.5 | $1.8M | 70 | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 50 | #188 of 386 | 30 | 4.1 | $2.5M | 105 | 21 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 50 | #189 of 387 | 71 | 9.7 | $1.1M | 108 | 65 |
| Electricians | 48 | #213 of 383 | 19 | 2.6 | $10.2M | 85 | 46 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 47 | #224 of 387 | 165 | 22.5 | $2.5M | 75 | 32 |
| Gyms | 47 | #226 of 387 | 40 | 5.5 | $1.1M | 87 | 22 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #241 of 387 | 151 | 20.6 | $835K | 95 | 66 |
| Physical therapy | 44 | #235 of 386 | 34 | 4.6 | $2.2M | 92 | 30 |
| Car washes and detailing | 43 | #254 of 387 | 33 | 4.5 | $2M | 80 | 13 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 42 | #255 of 387 | 117 | 16.0 | $1.1M | 85 | 57 |
| Barbershops | 42 | #267 of 387 | 37 | 5.0 | $1.6M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 39 | #252 of 377 | 15 | 2.0 | $591K | 87 | 13 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 38 | #272 of 387 | 106 | 14.5 | $2.4M | 77 | 154 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 36 | #302 of 347 | 16 | 2.2 | $2.8M | 69 | 22 |
| Grocery stores | 35 | #298 of 387 | 74 | 10.1 | $5.6M | 61 | 28 |
| Pizza | 33 | #321 of 387 | 74 | 10.1 | $3.4M | 66 | 154 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 30 | #169 of 197 | 6 | 0.8 | $12.6M | 51 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.4 | Index only | 131 | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Bowling Green metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $66.3M | $904 | 94 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $216.5M | $2,952 | 114 |
| Food away from home | $249.9M | $3,408 | 84 |
| Groceries | $416.6M | $5,681 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $59.9M | $817 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $27.9M | $380 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $45.1M | $615 | 62 |
| Medical and dental services | $75.3M | $1,027 | 80 |
| Pets | $58.7M | $801 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $126.1M | $1,719 | 84 |
| Vehicle insurance | $185.9M | $2,534 | 130 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $193.1M | $2,633 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $99.5M | $1,356 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1B | $14,081 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Bowling Green metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 197,180+9.5% since 2020
- Households
- 73,344
- Median age
- 36.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,614 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 116
- Median household income
- $63,328+27.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $85,606
- Median home value
- $233,700
- Jobs located here
- 78,351
- Daytime population
- 187,870Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Bowling Green metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Bowling Green metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Bowling Green metro area 4
- Warren County, KY140,918 people
- Allen County, KY21,293 people
- Butler County, KY12,393 people
- Edmonson County, KY12,355 people
Other markets based in Kentucky 12
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area1,372,558 people
- Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area522,560 people
- Elizabethtown, KY metro area127,049 people
- Owensboro, KY metro area112,762 people
- Paducah, KY-IL metro area102,748 people
- Corbin, KY area149,689 people
- Richmond-Berea, KY area125,967 people
- Pikeville, KY area91,951 people
- Frankfort, KY area76,195 people
- Somerset, KY area65,897 people
- Henderson, KY area57,122 people
- Danville, KY area55,445 people
Questions
How fast is the Bowling Green, KY metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Bowling Green metro area at 197,180 people in 2025, up 9.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 73,344 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 27.4%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Bowling Green, KY metro area spend?
Households in the Bowling Green metro area spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $416.6M on groceries and $249.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Bowling Green metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (62).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Bowling Green, KY metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Bowling Green metro area, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (78); insurance agencies (77); and house cleaning businesses (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #18 of 387 scored metro areas.
How does the Bowling Green, KY metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Bowling Green metro area is $63,328, 22% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 9.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $233,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for grocery stores (49% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for martial arts and dance studios (53% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 55 of the 56 business types have a score in the Bowling Green metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Bowling Green metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Kentucky · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Bowling Green metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Bowling Green metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.